First, sorry guys (and girls) for my lack of updates in the news section. Apart from the fact that the production remains rather silent since the end of the shooting, the fact is that I was working on an other project (also related to Douglas Adams, but not to the h2g2 movie) also kept my mind occupied to something else. Anyway it’s going to be a big surpise, and it’s going to happen soon!
ROGER BIRNBAUM SPEAKS ON OFFCIAL BLOG
First news, the official blog has been updated the 16th with a letter from Roger Birnbaum, the Co-Chairman and CEO of Spyglass Films. Spyglass are the guys who fought for the movie since 1995, so if you meet Roger one day : shake his hands friendly and give him your favourite towel. Maybe you have noticed that the update is dated 10th september but this just gives a glimpse of some obvious spacio-temportal problems for the guys who make the updates on the site.
As Roger confirms it, the « team is in active post-production with editing, visual effects and music ». Roger gives an hommage to Douglas’ widow (who encouraged us to move forward with the film), Karey Kirkpatrick (who was was hired to complete the work Douglas had started) and Spike Jonz (it was « at the suggestion of the avant-garde director that we met Hammer and Tongs »).
Roger also remembers how he was hooked on the movie in late 1995 when one of the executives of his company Derek Evans brought the book to his attention : « After several meetings with Douglas Adams and Robbie Stamp, we had Disney purchase the rights on behalf of ourselves and for the director, Jay Roach, who was enjoying enormous success with his hit “Austin Powers” and who had an equally strong passion for the Hitchhikers movie ».
Roger concludes his letter with an tribute to the « generation of fans all over the world for whom hitchhiking has a special meaning », saying that Spyglass his proud to be associated with this film.
This is of course a great letter from Spyglass top executive. Clearly, Spyglass is very happy with Hammer & Tongs’ work on the movie.
TRILLIAN IS HALF ALIEN
This rumour appeared in the September issue of Premiere Magazine in an interview with actress Zooey Deschanel. The article speaks of « the half-human, half-alien scientist Trillian in the long-awaited screen version of The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy ». MJ Simpson recently announced it had been confirmed by « informed source ». This is of course a surprising annoucement because we all know that in the Hitchhiker’s previous versions Trillian has always been a human being just like Arthur. But we also know for sure that Trillian’s character has been deepened a lot because it was a weak part in the radio-tv series and in most of the Hitchhiker’s books (but the last one). So some things about here might have changed a little. Anyway, the fact that she has some some extraterrestrial DNA does simply clear up a minor plot hole. Maybe the fact that Arthur would be then the only one to have the answer to the final question in his brain ? Who knows ?
Interinstingly, she adds about Hitchhikers in the same interview that “We did a scene where these enemy Vogons fire at us,” she says of Hitchhiker’s. “I got hit by one of the fake bullets – it broke the skin, and I have a big welt. But” – her voice perks up, gears changing again – “I feel sort of proud of it. It’s like my little battle scar.”’
THE MOVIE RELEASE DATE REMAINS UNCERTAIN
One of the hottest subject is to know when the movie will be out on the movie screens. Till know rumour was about the 3rd of june. But according to Comingsoon.net the release date has been brought forward a month to 6th may ! On Imdb, they bet on UK opening for the 6th may, in US the 3rd june, in France the 8th june, and in Netherlands the 30th june. Don’t know where they did get that dates, but they really seem wrong. A UK opening one month before the US and at the same time than the Star Wars release ?! UK and US releases will certainly be simultaneous, and will also depend on the real opening dates of other long awaited movies (including of course the last Star Wars).
You can also read my old news : « Summer of ’05 is shappin’ up in movie theatres »
